Jiang Yue hurriedly walked across the courtyard and reached the corridor outside the main hall, and then stopped, patting the snow on his body.

It has been three days since that interception battle. Not long after returning to Lian'an City, it snowed heavily, sometimes big and sometimes small, and it has continued until now.

After patting the snow off his body, he lifted the curtain and entered the room.

As soon as he entered the door, there was a gust of hot air, with a strong scent of bitter medicine. Jiang Yue took a look and saw that his master was squatting by the stove at the east end of the room, holding a fan in his hand, and fanning the stove carefully. Under the licking of the small flame, the medicine pot on the top was gurgling, filling every corner of the room with a bitter smell.

The corner of Jiang Yue's mouth twitched, she didn't know what to say. It took a while before he could hold back a sentence: "It's good for the emperor to leave this kind of thing to the medical officer, why do you have to do it yourself."

Chen Jiao gave him a white look: "Those people are clumsy, how can they serve you carefully."

"There are still a few maids of this girl on board, why don't my subordinates send them here."

"I'm here, what kind of maid do you want?" Chen Jiao smiled at him, "Anyway, I'm idle and bored."

Seeing his gentle and virtuous eyes made his scalp numb, Jiang Yue shivered quietly.

When the first emperor was critically ill, he never saw such a filial son and grandson like you. He muttered secretly. Fortunately, the attendants were screened out, so they couldn't see his virtue.

"Since when did you like to extract poison from arrows, are you tormenting people?" Chen Jiao complained again, Jiang Yue's arrow skills are extremely good, basically anyone who sees them will die, there is no need to extract poison at all.

Jiang Yue's heart skipped a beat, is this a gesture to settle accounts after autumn? Who would have known that the nobleman on board was the person this guy was thinking of. He had been lurking with Chen Jiao in the capital of Great Wei for more than a year, and he knew that he had someone he missed in the palace. He even asked his subordinates to pick him up when he fled to the south, but it was a pity that he picked up the wrong person.

"I got it from hunting a while ago. It's a newly made poison. I wanted to try it on the prey."

It was also a coincidence that Wu Jie hit the arrow.

Chen Jiao secretly rejoiced that it was not the poison or medicine that sealed the throat with blood, and it was also fortunate that this poison and medicine delayed Wu Jie and the others' speed to the north, and finally fell into his hands.

He stood up, saw Jiang Yue's shoulders were wet, and asked, "How is the snow outside the city?"

Only then did Jiang Yue realize that the matter was important, and he quickly said in a serious tone: "Before, my subordinate took people to walk along the river. It was snowing for three consecutive days, and it was already difficult to walk, and the progress of salvage was even slower. Yesterday, the camp on the shore froze to death. More than a dozen civilian husbands were killed, and there are countless frostbite victims."

Chen Jiao's face was gloomy. They would choose the Lujiangkou side to attack, just for the gold hidden in Prince Fu's Mansion before, and they arrested some peasants from Lian'an City to help dig and salvage the heavy gold at the bottom of the river. It was just ordinary hard labor, but they left with the gold after salvage. Naturally, these people can return to live. The blizzard that can last for three years has made the difficulty of salvage soaring.

"If you don't take advantage of these days to fish out the hidden gold as soon as possible, the river will freeze after the heavy snow, making it even more difficult to get into the water." Jiang Yue reminded.

Chen Jiao sighed, now is not the time to be compassionate. Decisively ordered: "Order shifts day and night, speed up the progress of salvage, and kill those who resist on the spot. In addition, the charcoal fire and hot soup by the river will not stop, so there is no need to waste lives."

I can't blame him for being ruthless. This batch of gold reserves is of great importance. Not only do they contain tens of millions of taels of gold, but there are also a large number of elite weapons prepared by Prince Fu at the beginning, which are the capital for him to expand his armaments and conquer the world.

Jiang Yue agreed to come down, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the one who was imprisoned in the West Wing, I heard that his injury has not recovered."

"You really care about him." Chen Jiao snorted coldly, "He has a tough life, and his martial arts are good, so I can rest assured that he is half dead and not alive."

Jiang Yue couldn't help but wiped his sweat, the other party was also the king of a country, did he abuse him like this?

When he thought of this incident, he still felt that he was dreaming. At first, when he saw that battle, he thought it was an elite general of the Great Wei Imperial Army, and he felt admiration for it. When he heard the real identity of that person, Jiang Yue's jaw almost dropped.

How did you capture His Majesty the Emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty in this remote place? This is what God unfolds.

No wonder I wanted to step forward before, but the lord pressed him down and said, "You are not worthy to fight with him!"

According to the previous information, it seems that the emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty was going to lead his troops to the north to fight against the barbarians who were pressing every step of the way. Even if it was false news, the emperor chose South Chen to fight first, and it should be under the support of the three armies, advancing slowly, why did he run out of the barren mountains with so few guards.

In any case, even the king of a country fell into his hands. Jiang Yue even felt that he was only a wall away from the gate of Capital City in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and he could be leveled in a blink of an eye.

"Your Majesty, in the future, with this person as a hostage, the world will naturally be pacified." Thinking about the grand future hegemony, Jiang Yue felt his eyes shine.

Could it be that the fate in the book is true.

Chen Jiao was not as excited as he was, and only glanced at him coldly, "Hurry up and go to work, the salvage action must be fast, no matter how much you have salvaged after ten days, you must immediately set off to go south."

Jiang Yue came to his senses. They estimated that there would be enough time to salvage slowly, because the mouth of Lu rivier was not a strategic location. Even if it was captured, it was impossible for the Northern Wei Dynasty to send an army to take it back immediately. But now that the emperor has fallen into their hands, they are afraid that they will come to kill him soon. Today's blizzard has both joy and sorrow. Although it slowed down the progress of salvage, it also hindered the rescue of soldiers and horses in the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Jiang Yue hurried out to arrange official business.

Feeling that the soup was almost done, Chen Jiao took the small pot off the stove.

The attendants lifted the curtain of the bedroom in the back hall, and Chen Jiao entered the room.

The light scent of plum blossoms came, diluting the strong bitter smell in the room.

Seeing him coming in, Wu Jie sat up sickly. After she was captured by Chen Jiao's men that day, her high fever recurred in fear.

Chen Jiao took her back to Lian'an City and resettled her. Because the poison and medicine belonged to Jiang Yue, he prescribed the right medicine and immediately prescribed the prescription. After taking it for three days in a row, she is almost better now, but there is something in her heart, and Wu Jie's heart is heavy.

Chen Jiao put the medicine bowl on the table, leaned over to put a cushion on his back, and said with a smile, "These people may not be careful in serving you. I have already sent someone back to pick them up. I guarantee that you will be happy to see them."

Needless to say, Wu Jie also knew that it was Chi Rui who he went to pick up. As expected, it was his fault that Chi Rui disappeared that night. Listening to the words, she probably didn't embarrass the girl.

"It's just that my people went that day, why didn't I see you." Chen Jiao asked while stirring the spoon.

"I went out to check the water situation, and when I came back, I found that Chi Rui was gone."

"It's the fault of those idiots, and it's also my fault that I was injured that day, so I couldn't go there in person." Chen Jiao said angrily.

After testing that the temperature was about the same, he fed the decoction to Wu Jie.

In the past two days, Wu Jie knew that he could not disobey him, so she obediently opened her mouth and drank.

The meager light of winter came in through the window, covering his unparalleled handsome face. He looked at her with trembling eyes, dignified and careful, like a lost and recovered treasure.

Wu Jie lowered her eyes and asked, "What are you going to do with me next?"

"What kind of treatment, it sounds too much. You were originally the princess of Dongyue, and I was thinking of sending envoys to Dongyue after the new year, so that the two countries could restore the old relationship. At that time, I still hope that Dongyue will marry the princess, and I will not anyway. Marry a wife." Chen Jiao said frankly.

He never concealed his love for her.

Wu Jie said in a low voice, "I have already married the Northern Wei Dynasty."

"I don't mind, and I heard that he is sending you back to East Vietnam this time, so he has already reconciled."

In today's world, there are many women who remarry after divorce or widowhood, but have never heard of such a relationship between the two countries... What's more, she returned to her hometown to reunite with her family and live together. Entering South Chen's harem is different from being in the Northern Wei harem.

She bit her lip and said: "I'm afraid people in the world will mind, I don't want to be the object of others' discussion."

"What is this? If you don't want to hear it, I won't let them discuss it. Anyone who criticizes without authorization will be killed to show the public."

"Fangmin's mouth is better than Fangchuan's. I don't believe you can silence everyone." Wu Jie frowned.

"Ha, let's change another method. After I discuss with your father and uncle, I will change your title and status for you." This kind of operation is also very simple, let's say a princess raised outside the palace.

Wu Jie snorted: "Deceive yourself!"

"You and I don't live in the eyes of others, as long as we live happily, why think so much." Chen Jiaoyu said earnestly.

Wu Jie lowered her head and grabbed the quilt on her knees tightly. "Then His Majesty is very happy today. With this great victory, it will be smooth sailing in the future."

Captured Yuan Jing, in a strategic sense, it can be said that half of the Northern Wei Dynasty was captured.

Chen Jiao stared at her, and suddenly said: "Actually, I'm not in such a cheerful mood."

Wu Jie was startled, and then a hand suddenly reached out and pinched her chin.

Wu Jie was forced to raise her head to meet his bright eyes.

"Has he touched you?"

Wu Jie was stunned for a while before realizing what he said, her cheeks were hot instantly, she was ashamed and annoyed, she slammed the hand on her chin, "Get lost!"

Chen Jiao didn't think it was disobedient, and laughed lowly: "It seems that there are no more."

Still in a bad mood, even if he hadn't touched her.

In fact, he is not a conventional person who cares about women's chastity. Compared with his body, what he cares more about is Wu Jie's worried and panicked appearance after his battle with Yuan Jing.

Before she left, she had no affection for that man, only jealousy. How did it become such a concern in such a short period of time?

Chen Jiao felt restless for a while, but he didn't show it on his face. Still laughing, he said: "Oh, just now I was thinking that if I ever met you, I would eunuch him and let him stay in the palace to serve the future empress."

Wu Jie was terrified to hear that, but his brows were full of smiles, so Wu Jie couldn't tell if he was joking, or if he was really just that perverted. .

"Don't you know, he's still yours..." She bit her lip and whispered.

"My what, my good brother? You actually know about this." Chen Jiao smiled, "In this case, it's not bad to keep martial arts by your side. Who made this kid dare to covet his sister-in-law."

Wu Jie was terrified when she heard this. She has never been so aware of the danger of Chen Jiao as she is now.

Before, he was lurking by her side, withdrew all his sharp minions, and was obedient like a lazy cat. It was just an illusion that he was lurking in the crisis-ridden enemy court, and now he returned to his own territory. All his sharp edges were revealed, and he realized that he was born as a cheetah, with the sharpest claws and the fastest body shape. And that mentality that cats generally like to play with their prey.

"He is the king of a country. When the two countries are at war, they should treat each other with courtesy." Many barbarians outside the Great Wall let the captured king Tsing Yi serve wine, and even abused them wantonly. Thinking of the arrogance in Yuan Jing's bones, Wu Jie felt sad for a while.

Seeing her worried expression, Chen Jiao finally pressed his forehead and said with a wry smile, "I'm just kidding, you take it seriously. No matter how crazy I am, I'm not that perverted."

Chen Jiao's attitude softened, he sat beside Wu Jie's bed, and said in a gentle voice, "Whatever he said, he is my only relative in this world. Although sometimes I wish I could beat him to death."

Wu Jie twitched in her heart, remembering the situation when Chen Jiao fought Yuan Jing on the battlefield before, after being suppressed, Chen Jiao's posture was really trying to drive everyone to death. Yuanjing's bones must have broken quite a few roots.

"Before I taught him, it was because I was too angry. Because of my mother." Chen Jiao sighed, his eyes fell on Wu Jie's face, "I don't know how you know about this."

"In the Northern Wei Palace, there are also clues to Concubine Jing's identity." Wu Jie said vaguely.

Chen Jiao nodded, and sighed again, "Fortunately, I have succeeded to the throne. If the emperor is still here, I must kill him and hurry up. I'm afraid I will be ashamed."

Wu Jie didn't take it seriously, your father was obviously suppressed by Yuan Jing in his later years, okay?

"When I heard the news of his succession, my father insisted on sending troops to the north despite his illness. In the eyes of the world, he was aiming at the handover of the throne. When the government was in turmoil, he took advantage of the chaos. But I knew that he I really can't bear it anymore. So many years of hatred."

"When he first succeeded to the throne, he worked hard to govern, and he only thought about going north to attack and take back his beloved. Until I was six years old, I heard the news that my mother died of illness in the Northern Dynasty..."

Wu Jie bowed her head and remained silent. She remembered that Chen Jiao also began to change into women's clothes under Xiao Zhou's design when she was six years old. He must have heard the news of Da Zhou's death. Emperor Tiankang couldn't restrain his grief.

But what is the sorrow? Didn't he himself give his wife to the enemy? In exchange for the throne.

Maybe it was because the irony in her eyes was too clear, Chen Jiao immediately understood what she was thinking, and smiled: "Actually, the father didn't just sacrifice his wife for glory. He loved his mother as much as his life, how could he do it?" Something like this happened."

"At that time, the late emperor was seriously ill, and his father, as the crown prince, was in a precarious position. In order to seize the throne, he secretly went north and met with Emperor Zhanghe. He made an agreement with him that he would be rewarded with the land of the four counties in Jiangdong in exchange for the support of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Help him regain the throne."

"Emperor Zhanghe was originally an emperor with a peaceful personality, and he was not easy to fight and kill. At that time, he was only instigated by courtiers when he went south. He thought that he could get the land of the four counties without spending a single soldier, and only paid some goods and armaments. Happy to agree."

"The two parties secretly signed the letter of credence. In order to prevent the father from breaching the contract, Emperor Zhanghe ordered him to send his wife and children as hostages."

"That's right, I also lived in the Great Wei Army for a long time when I was just born." Chen Jiao showed an inexplicable smile.

Afterwards, Wu Jie could guess that Emperor Zhanghe, as the emperor of the Northern Dynasty, had been on the throne for more than ten years, and had already seen all kinds of beauties in the harem. Who knows, at first sight...

"A few months later, the father successfully won the throne, and took the secret agreement between the two of them at that time, and went to fulfill the promise."

"As a result, the envoy was driven back in disgrace."

"Emperor Zhanghe said that he has never heard of the land of the four counties, the secret treaty of credentials, and so on. The envoy took it back with him."

Wu Jie didn't know what to say. She originally sold his wife for glory because it was Emperor Tiankang, but now it seems that it is Emperor Zhanghe who broke his promise. No wonder Concubine Jing hates him and Yuan Jing so much.

"Royal father hated Northern Chao all his life, especially after he heard that his mother had died of illness. At that time, he didn't know how her mother died. If he knew the truth, he might ignore it in a blink of an eye and send troops to the north. "

"Before I beat him, it was also because of this."

Chen Jiao's face turned cold. The death of Empress Zhou, even he, a foreign monarch, could find out that it was the work of Empress Dowager Hong and Prince Fu, and the emperor Yuan Jing should have known about it long ago.

"As a son of man, he didn't want to avenge his mother. Instead, he blindly recognized the thief as his mother. He was in cahoots with the Hong family and served day and night to the enemy who killed his mother. He was extremely filial. I have to wait for my adventure to go north before I can avenge my mother. , What a vain son of man."

Speaking later, Chen Jiao was full of resentment, "I beat him not because of the grievances between the two countries, but because the elder brother taught the younger brother to vent his anger on behalf of the queen mother. It was already cheap not to beat him to death."

Wu Jie was silent. Chen Jiao's words sounded righteous and there was nothing to criticize. Yuan Jing really knew the inside story of Concubine Jing's death for a long time, and she really didn't think about revenge. She even made fun of her son when she mentioned it, but...

Thinking of Concubine Jing's harsh treatment of Yuan Jing, Chen Jiao probably couldn't imagine it. In his imagination, Empress Da Zhou must be a gentle and considerate mother. In fact, this is not his imagination. After Da Zhou and Emperor Tiankang Chen Yan, they were originally young couples, and they were extremely loving. They would of course treat Chen Jiao, a beloved son, with kindness and tenderness.

She was silent for a moment, then asked: "Does the emperor intend to make a northern expedition?" She also felt that this sentence was pure nonsense. Chen Jiao was never a mediocre emperor. It was a godsend opportunity to fall into his hands. If he didn't send his troops to the north, he would be sorry for the ancestors of the Nanchen Dynasty.

But if they go north, the northern barbarian tribe breaks through the Hangu pass and ravages the Central Plains. If they make a careless move, it is very likely that it will lead to a war that lasts for a hundred years, and people will die.

She couldn't help asking: "I heard that the barbarians are raging in the north. In the future, your Majesty's elite soldiers may resist the great floods and beasts going south?"

Chen Jiao didn't answer, Wu Jie felt her head sinking. It was someone who put his hand on it, and said softly: "Don't think about it so much, take a good rest, I know what to do."

Watching him stand up. Wu Jie wanted to say something more, but felt it was futile.

It is impossible to persuade Chen Jiao to give up this opportunity only by verbal persuasion. Chen Jiao is a very firm person, not a real bargaining chip, and it is impossible to shake his mind.